They spend millions on this move and couldn't figure out how to raise and tip it slightly so it could fit without destroying things in its path? Wow.

took one hell of a lot of planning. I wonder if Toyota helped pay the bill, it looks like a Tundra is pulling it in one shot. Should make a good commercial for Toyota.

The multi-wheeled device carrying the Shuttle is self propelled.

And all-wheel steer, for that matter.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2012/10/space-shuttle-endeavour-successfully-crosses-405-freeway.html

The move of Endeavour across the 405 was complicated because the California Department of Transportation did not allow the shuttle to be moved across the overpass by the power of its special transporter system.

So, to make its way over the relatively narrow overpass, crews jacked up the shuttle, removed the four self-propelled transporters that had been wheeling Endeavour all day Friday, and replaced them with a dolly. The dolly is less bulky and more maneuverable in a tight area, officials said...

The Toyota Tundra pulled a total of 292,000 pounds, which includes the weight of the yellow frame supporting Endeavour’s belly, officials said. The company said Toyota had tested its Tundra three times leading up to the moment. The most recent test came about three weeks ago in Santa Fe Springs, with 20% more weight than what was being towed Friday night. ...

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http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/14/watch-a-toyota-tundra-tow-space-shuttle-endeavor/

There are publicity stunts, and then there's using a Toyota Tundra to tow the 145-ton Space Shuttle Endeavour across interstate 405 in Los Angeles. That's exactly what happened Saturday night when Toyota lent a hand pulling the retired spacecraft over a bridge en route to the California Science Center. As it turned out, the Manchester Boulevard Bridge couldn't stand up to the weight of both the shuttle and the traditional tow vehicle, which sent organizers searching for something a little lighter to cover the five-minute drive across the bridge. As a 20-year sponsor of the science center, Toyota stepped in to help out.

The company developed a special tow dolly with Sarens Group, an engineering and heavy-lifting firm, just for the effort. A bone-stock 2012 Toyota Tundra CrewMax 4x4 did the deed, though something tells us this little stunt greatly exceeded the machine's tow rating. ...

292,000 pounds!

Do the new tundra's have an extra low first gear?

They couldn't use the self-propelled vehicle on the overpass. It took several hours to load the Shuttle onto dollies, and traffic on the 405 was backed up for miles on Friday as motorists slowed down to watch.

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/10/14/watch-a-toyota-tundra-tow-space-shuttle-endeavor/

My apologies for not reading the pertinent stories.

Too bad they don't have a shot of a skateboarder zipping by in front of the shuttle

I wonder who the "Master" of the shuttle was for that ride.

I never got to see the shuttle go up, but followed the program from the first to the last launch. When I was a kid I'd get up in the middle of the night (Pacific Coast) to watch the shuttle go up. I remember the day of the Challenger disaster as I was in high school. I also remember the day Columbia disintigrated upon its reentry. On the latter I was buying Bon Jovi tickets in Portland for a show that was taking place a few months away.

The sight of it still brings tears to my eyes